The value of cognitive foundations for dynamic social theory

Abstract

It is possible to develop models of social behavior that are predicated on detailed mechanical models of cognition. Cognitively based social models are potentially unified theoretical frameworks that can be used to explain a wide variety of social phenomena. Moreover, if a knowledge representation scheme and a knowledge acquisition scheme are specified in the underlying cognitive model then it is possible to produce a dynamic social model. The resulting social model can thus be used to predict and explain not only conditions for specific behaviors but changes in those behaviors over time.

Constructuralism is a theory of social behavior that rests on a cognitive model. The cognitive model specified has a knowledge representation scheme, knowledge acquisition procedures, and control procedures for shifting cognitive attention. The resulting social model is a dynamic model that can be used to explain both conditions for the occurrence of a behavior and social and individual changes that accrue do to a series of behaviors. The explanatory breadth of the model is illustrated by looking at predictions about a variety of social phenomena including: development of shared knowledge, identical behavior by members of the society, foreign language acquisition, clique formation, civil disobedience, and diffusion of innovative information.

Keywords:

• Attribution
• Cognitive Structure
• Social Action
• Social Structure